Chapter 1261. Gone with the Wind (1)

It was only natural that I gave Aris a look that demanded an explanation. I wanted to know why Rafael’s party was there, and why she was showing this to me in the first place. It wasn’t that I wanted spoilers. It was more like I wanted to understand the context. There had to be a reason why Rafael’s party was all the way there.

Aris seemed to have understood what I was trying to say, and she nodded before explaining, “It was after I lost contact with you.”

“...”

“Strange phenomena began occurring between Laios and the Democratic Country’s border. In just a few days, many people went missing, so the Adventurer’s Guild launched an investigation.

"At first, it was just a rumor circulating among adventurers, but...” Aris paused.

“They got worse? Or... did the Adventurer’s Guild actually request direct support? That’s not something they usually do...” I said.

“Yes. Lady Pristina of Laios and the Adventurer’s Guild designated the area as a Legendary-rank disaster zone, so there was nothing more we could do. We did send a scouting team at first... but we also lost contact with them...” Aris continued.

“...”

“In the end, I thought the right move was to assign the mission to adventurers in the Democratic Country, which would be an operation backed by the nation itself. At the time, I still believed the matter would be resolved without much difficulty...” Aris explained.

Aris probably hadn’t been paying much attention to the matter up to this point. And in truth, it wasn’t something she could have concerned herself with. She was the leader of a nation, and hiring or assigning tasks to adventurers was clearly the responsibility of the relevant department.

The problem was that the department in question existed in name only.

‘Wasn’t the Democratic Country’s Dungeon Disaster Department existed in name only?’

Whenever something like this happened among adventurers, it would usually be handled by one of the three major guilds in Lindel or by the Blue Guild.

With the Continental Protection Management Committee also in place, it was extremely rare for matters to escalate all the way to the Democratic Country’s jurisdiction.

From their perspective, they could say that they were just unlucky.

It clearly exceeded the limits of their official responsibilities.

“How did things end up reaching that point?” I mumbled without realizing it.

I immediately heard Aris' response, saying, “There was a communication issue between the Continental Protection Management Committee and the Democratic Country’s Dungeon Disaster Department.

'It was also problematic that the initial report was sent from Laios.”

That was understandable...

“As you probably already know... the Democratic Country’s Dungeon Disaster Department is famous for being a useless organization. With the three major guilds and the Continental Protection Management Committee, it has practically no real purpose, and of course, it exists in name only.

"Even though it was said to be at the border, as it happened within the Democratic Country’s territory, they considered it their jurisdiction. Thus, the Continental Protection Management Committee couldn’t get directly involved," Aris explained.

“...”

“The Democratic Country’s Dungeon Disaster Department didn’t report the incident when it first broke out. Whether they couldn’t or were looking for another solution, I don’t know... It was only after a week since the adventurers went missing that the incident was finally reported,” Aris continued.

“...”

“Realizing the gravity of the situation, the only thing I could do was to commission the most renowned freelance adventurers,” Aris said.

“And that was Rafael’s party,” I said.

“That’s right.”

“So you didn’t work with the Continental Protection Management Committee again?” I asked.

“I wanted to ask for help as well... but I wasn’t in a situation where I could do that...” Aris replied, and her face turned slightly gloomy.

‘I think it’s safe to assume that it’s a political reason.’

Even if it was created just for show, it was still a government institution.

Even if things went wrong, there was no way to hand the matter over to the Continental Protection Management Committee.

Formally commissioning the three major guilds of LIndel would be the most effective approach, but as a leader, one wouldn’t want to tarnish the nation’s dignity.

No, even if Oscar personally wanted to do so, she couldn't do that if she were to consider the Democratic Country as a whole.

Losing the trust of the denizens was unthinkable. There was nothing worse than the denizens losing faith in their government. Despite being little more than a facade, the institution’s existence had to be justified and accepted. This was the responsibility of a leader.

‘I get it.’

I couldn't believe that the Blue Guild couldn’t handle a commission and ended up passing it off to outsiders...

‘It doesn’t make sense.’

“I learned that you had returned... and that you’ve taken an interest in the Six Stars... Of course, those involved will be disciplined. Once things have settled, there will be an official apology and an announcement, but before that, the Democratic Country—”

“So basically, you need a reason to show that something was done,” I interrupted her.

“I’m ashamed to say it, but yes...” Aris said, and I saw her suddenly growing a bit weaker.

The confident Oscar was nowhere to be seen, and I kept seeing Aris, the maid. The unexpected change made me rub my eyes in astonishment. It seemed like she had acquired a skill to transform into Aris when she needed to do so.

At first, I was sure I had the upper hand, but now, it felt like I was the one getting played.

Well...

‘It’s not just the Democratic Country’s fault.’

Honestly, both the Continental Protection Management Committee and our side were at fault. It was a tug-of-war over jurisdiction because the incident was right on the border, and in the end, we were stuck with it by force.

‘The Continental Protection Management Committee bastards are at fault as well. Maybe it’s because Ji-Hye noona isn’t here...’

Just one person was missing, but the continent suddenly couldn't function properly. Seriously. While we were talking, the video kept playing. Aris seemed to be waiting for my response, but perhaps she thought it was better to just watch the video together, as she went silent.

“...”

“...”

I saw Rafael’s party moving cautiously through the dungeon. There was Lee Joo-Hyuk, the hunting dog, Marian, the miracle priest, and several other capable but less notable members.

The camera was set from Rafael’s perspective, so I couldn’t see him. I heard them talking as soon as they spotted the big hexagram on the wall.

— What’s this?

— Let’s be careful for now, Rafael. It might be a type of magic circle we’re unaware of.

— Lee Joo-Hyuk, do you recognize it?

— I’m not really familiar with magic. Ask the old man.

They had to have gotten new members, as I saw unfamiliar faces with them.

— The traces of the missing people end here.

— In front of the magic circle? That's definitely weird.

‘Yeah, it’s clearly suspicious, so get away from that place.’

- I don’t feel any mana, and there are no traces of it being activated... Not only that... I’ve never seen a magic circle like this before...

‘No... don’t say things like that and just leave. Everyone went missing from that place. Why do people who appear in horror movies always do that?’

— Something always happens in situations like this...

‘You shouldn’t make jokes like that.’

As expected, Lee Joo-Hyuk, the hunting dog, started yelling first.

— Damn it! Prepare for battle! Rafael!

— I know!

The battle began in an instant. What was frustrating was that I had no clue what kind of fight it was. The camera was shaking like an aspen tree, so I couldn’t tell who the enemies were or how many there were.

Rafael’s combat camera was the one moving chaotically. Clearly, he was under considerable pressure despite being one of the continent's top elites. At one point, the combat camera was knocked away from him, and I couldn't see anything but the ceiling

Still, I could hear them.

— These guys are strong! Don’t put your guard down!

— I know.

— Rafael!

— Yeah!

‘Were those guys always this strong?’

Whether the Six Stars had occupied the dungeon or they were the ones who escaped was still unclear, but the fact that they could give Rafael’s party such trouble was pretty unsettling.

I knew how dangerous they were from how easily they slipped in and out of the Blue Guild’s Youth Center, but their strength went beyond my expectations, so I was a bit shaken.

Although there were some unusual members among them, weren’t they almost the strongest party as one big unit? If they were to make a guild, they could easily follow closely behind the famous guilds.

It was even hard to find anyone who could surpass Rafael’s individual prowess.

The fierce battle, but suddenly, the noises disappeared as if the video feed was cut off abruptly. The battle ended so suddenly that I wondered if something was wrong with the video feed. Immediately afterward, I heard Rafael’s panicked voice.

— What the... Where is everyone?

— ...

—

Uh...

Just moments ago, the place was noisy and chaotic, but suddenly, it became eerily silent. The voices of those who were fighting only moments ago could no longer be heard.

Hunting Dog Lee Joo-Hyuk's nonsensical words and the chanting of the miracle priest, Marian, had vanished. In other words, everyone except Rafael had vanished in the proverbial blink of an eye.

— What’s... going on...

‘You’re right... damn it. What’s going on?’

In the wide lens view, I saw Rafael standing alone, motionless.

— What the hell... was that just now...

‘That’s what I want to ask... damn it... What was that?’

— Where did everyone go... The enemies... Joo-Hyuk... Marian? Wh-Where did everyone go?

The video ended there.

To be honest...

“I’m surprised,” I commented.

“...”

“Still... it’s reassuring that there was a survivor,” I added.

“I’m glad,” Oscar said.

‘That explains why she’s been contacting me consistently since around a week ago...’

Unfortunately, I was too busy to get a chance to see it.

Looking back, I ought to have asked for this earlier.

Although I had yet to complete a thorough review of the footage, as previously mentioned, the mere fact that there was a survivor was reassuring.

In an incident like this, there usually wouldn't be any survivors. It was far more advantageous to proceed alongside someone who had firsthand experience of the event rather than to rush in blindly.

If that individual happened to be an adventurer of Rafael’s caliber, there’d be no need to say any more words. He was likely already well-informed about the situation and knew the tricks of the dungeon.

“So, your request is to investigate and clear this dungeon, right?” I asked.

“That’s right,” Oscar answered.

“Where’s Mr. Rafael right now?” I asked.

“He’s probably heading here. If... meeting him like that is uncomfortable for you...” Aris trailed off.

“No, it’s fine, Lady Aris,” I said.

‘I can count him as one of my comrades.’

“...”

“...”

Moments later, Rafael walked into the room in a hurry.

“Greetings, Lady Oscar.

Huh?

H-Hyung?” Rafael said.

He seemed much thinner, and it was probably from all the emotional strain he had been through since then. I thought he would look a bit different with age, but he looked exactly the same as when I last saw him.

“Is that really you... hyung?” Rafael asked.

Naturally, I revealed an affectionate smile. “It’s been a while, Mr. Rafael."